Moving-picture machine.



W. B. MOORE 82: T. H. ARMSTRONG.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1906.

Patented June-3, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

firmer/l.

W. B. MOORE & T. H. ARMSTRONG.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25,,1906.

1,063,207, v Patented June 3,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT Z.

I hwy/25073:

mvfmm on ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. MOORE AND THOMAS H. ARMSTRONG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNOBS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THOMAS A. EDISON, INCORPORATED, OFWEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MOVING-PICTURE MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1913.

Application filed June 25, 1906. Serial No. 323,270.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM B. MOORE andTHOMAS H. ARMSTRONG, citizens of. the United States, and residents ofChicago, in

the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

operated to run a film provided with a series of photographic positivestherethrough and throw a series of images thereof on a curtain orscreen, obtaining thereby what are known in the art as moving pictures.

To those skilled in the art. it is well known that the photographic filmis exposed to considerable heat produced by the light in the lanternwhen in the moving picture ma-v chine; that such film is made ofinflammable material, and when such film is allowed to remain at rest itis set on fire, or at least injured by the heat, in a very short time.And it is the object of this invent-ion to obtain a moving picturemachine in which a screen will be automatically interposed between thephotographic film and the lantern before which the machine is placedwhenever the film is not in motion and automatically removed frombetween such film and the stereopticon lantern when such film is movingat the rate of speed required to obtain a motion picture effecttherefrom on a curtain or screen.

In the drawing referred to Figure 1 is a side elevation'of a portion ofa moving picture machine embodying our invention, with the screen,forming an element thereof in position to be interposed between a filmin the machine and the lens of the stereopticon before which the machineis placed. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a portion of a moving picturemachine embodying this invention,

showing the screen forming an element thereof removed from in front ofthe aperture in which the photographs of the film are exposed to thelight of the stereopticon lantern, in front of which the machine isplaced. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the screen and princ pal partsadjacent thereto of a moving picture machine embodying this invention.Fig. 4 is an elevation of weights and some of the parts adjacentthereto, which are rotatably mounted in an appa ratus embodying thisinvention to form automatically operating screen actuating'mechanism.ig. 5 is a side elevation of the weights and some of the parts adjacentthereto which form elements in a machine embody ing this invention, suchweights and adjacent parts being shown in elevation in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 isa side elevation of a rotatably mounted sleeve which is used as anelement to transmit motion in a machinemade as we prefer to constructthe apparatusembo'dying our invention. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of therotatably mounted sleeve separately illustrated in Fig. 6 of thedrawing. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a sleeve and gear wheel thereonformin an element to transmit motion in the mac ine embodying ourinvention herein illustrated and described. and Fig. 9 is a sideelevation, partly in section, of an Edison kinetoscope with our improvedscreen and screen operating means applied thereto.

A reference character applied to designate a given part is used toindicate such part throughout the several figures of the draw--: ingwherever the same appears.

A is a door at the back of a movmg'pic ture machine provided with anaperture therein.

B is the frame of a moving picture ma-' chine. The door A' is mounted onframe B by a hinge.

C (Fig. 1), is a shaft rotatably mounted than the remainder of thebearing, to obtain shoulder e andinserting such part 6 in a and-toengage with beveled gear D when 'door A is closed against frame B asillustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

H. is a gear Wheel rigidly secured to, shaft Fto turn therewith. v

I is a support mounted on bearing E. This support carries a lowerbearing and is rigidly secured in an adjusted posltion by set screw J Kis a shaft in the'bearin of support I, which may be, and prefera ly is,non-rotatably' secured in place.

Lis a sleeve rotatably mounted on shaft Sleeve L is provided with gearwheel M rigidly secured thereon and with slots N, N, at one end thereof.is a sleeve also mounted on shaft K. Sleeve 0 is provided withprojections P, P, at one end and w1th arms Q, Q, on thesides thereof.Gear wheel M engages with gear wheel H and slots N, N, engage withprojections P, P, on sleeve R is a barrel loosely mounted on sleeve L.

S is a screen rigidly secured to the barrel R and T is an arm alsorigidly secured to barrel R. I U, U, is a weight on arm T. We prefer tomake weight U, U, in two parts or pieces and to mount them adjustably onarm '1,

as means of screw threads; as such weights serve as a counter balance tohold screen S in the position thereof illustrated in Fig. 1 andindicated by broken lines in Fig. 2, when the apparatus is at rest andby so constructing the weight it can be easily adjusted to form thedesired counter balance and then set to remain in such adjustedposition. The weight U, U, returns screen S to its position illustratedin Figs. 1 and 3 after its movement therefrom, and also acts as acounterbalance for'the screen when the latter is maintained in its openposition during operation of-the machine, the force tending to somaintain the screen being opposed by the weight U, U.

V is a coiled spring.

W, W, are weights loosely mounted on sleeve 0 and in barrel'lft. SpringV extends around weights W, W, yieldingly holding such weights togetherwhen sleeve 0 is not rotating. Weights W, W, are respectively providedwith a hole or recess X shown in Fig. 4:) in which the arms Q, Q, onsleeve U extend when weights W, W are mounted as stated, on sleeve U andin barrel R. When sleeve U is rotated weights W, W, are turned aroundshaft K thereby, and when such shaft K is rotated with sufficient speedthe weights W, W, are thrown out, against the barrel R (against thereripheral surface of the barrel to turn the barrel on sleeve L (raisingcounter weight U, U,) and move screen S from the position thereofindicated by bro-ken lines in Fig. 2 into the position thereof shown bythe full lines in such Fig. 2. When sleeve 0 and weights W, W, cease toturn the weights are retracted from the barrel R by spring V and thecounter weight returns barrel R and screen S to their initial position.i

By the hereinbefore described mechanism when a film is in the movingpicture machine and the door A is closed, the screen S is interposedbetween such film and the lens of the stereopticon lantern before whichthe machine is placed, at all times when the shaft C of the movingpicture machine is not rotating, (that is, when the film is not in useand being moved), and when shaft G is turning at the. right speed toproperly move the film t-hescreen S is automatically moved from in frontof the film to permit the light from the stereopticon lantern to fallupon the film and project a picture therefrom on to the curtain orscreen. The door A can be opened at any time in the usual way'; and whenclosed the beveled gear wheels C and G again intermesh and the machineis in operative position.

Z is a stop on support. I to limitthe movement of screen S.

Referring especially to Fig. 9, reference character 1 representsgenerally an Edison kinetoscope provided with the usual film feedingmechanism 2 for feeding the film 3 past the projection aperture and 4represents the crank for driving the film feeding mechanism. The frame Bis provided with the shaft C rotatably mounted therein and the film gateor door A. Reference character 5 represents generally the screen and thescreen operating means which are mounted on door A and constructed ashereinbefore described.

While we have shown and described an Edison universal projectingkinetoscope constructed to embody our invention we make no change in theformer construction of such apparatus but simply. add thereto thenecessary mechanism so that the completed device will efi'ect thepurpose sought by us, in addition to the purposes heretofore sought inthe making and use of such kinetosco'pe; and we do not confine ourinvention to such kineto-scope as the mechanism herein specificallyshown and described, or its mechanical equivalent, may be combined withany other form of moving picture machine.

Sleeves L and 0 may be joined to form a single sleeve having gear wheelM on one end thereof and projections Q, Q, thereon near the other endthereof. In such case in assembling the several parts the weights W, W,may be placed on the sleeve, such sleeve then inserted through the holein the rear wall of barrel R and the gear wheel M then forced on to theend of the sleeve. We prefer to make the sleeve in two parts so that thesame may be assembled or taken apart at any time by the user.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a main frame providedwith means forimparting a progressive move ment to a film, a door hingedthereto, a movable screen carried on said door, and means under thecontrol of the fihn moving mechanism operable .to move said screen whenthe door is closed and inoperative for this purpose when the door isopen, substantially as set forth.

2. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a main frame providedwith film moving mechanism, a door hinged thereto, a movable filmprotecting screen on said door and centrifugal means for moving saidscreen engaged with and operable from the film moving mechanism onlywhen the door is closed, substantially as set forth.

3. In a moving picture machine, the com bination of a main frameprovided with film moving mechanism, a door hinged thereto, a movablescreen on said door, and means for moving said screen located partly onthe frame and partly on the door, the parts thereof being operativelypositioned with respect to one another only when the door is closed,substantially as set forth.

4. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a main frame providedwith film moving mechanism, a door hinged thereto, a movable screen onsaid door and mechanical means for moving said screen controlled by thefilm moving mechanism and located partlyv on the frame and partly on thedoor, the said parts being so situated relative to one another as not tointerfere with the opening of the door, substantially as set forth.

5. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a main frame providedwith means for imparting a progressive movement to a film, a door hingedto said frame, and having an exposure opening therein, a movable screenarranged to extend normally across said opening, and adjacent thereto, arevoluble shaft supported in said frame, mechanical means connectingsaid screen to said shaft to cause said screen to be moved away fromsaid opening when said shaft is rotated, said mechanical means and saidscreen being constructed and arranged so as not to interfere with theopening of said door.

6. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a main frame providedwith film moving mechanism, a door hinged thereto, a movable screen onsaid door, and means for moving said screen controlled by the filmmoving mechanism and located partly on the frame and partly on the door,the parts thereof being operatively positioned with re spect to oneanother only when the door is closed and so situated relative to oneanother as not to interfere with the opening of the door, substantiallyas set forth.

7. In a moving picture machine. the combination with a main frameprovided with film moving mechanism, of a door hinged thereto, a screenrotatably mounted on said door, an actuating member for said screen onsaid frame and a coiiperating screen actuating device on said door, thesaid member and device being arranged to be moved into and out ofcooperative relation according as the door is closed or opened,substantially as set forth.

8. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a main frame providedwith film moving mechanism, a door hinged thereto, a movable screen onsaid door and means for operating said screen comprising a member uponthe frame actuated from the film moving mechanism, and a screenactuating device on the door which is brought into cooperative relationwith said member by closing the door and is moved out of cooperativerelation therewith by opening the door, substantially as set forth.

9. In a moving picture machine, the commechanism only when the door isclosed, substantially as set forth.

10.. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a main frameprovided with film moving mechanism, a door hinged thereto, the filmpassing between the frame and door, a movable shutter on said dooradapted when at rest to cut 0d the projecting light from the film, andcentrifugal means on said door for moving said screen, the saidcentrifugal means being operated from the film moving mechanism,substantially as set forth.

11. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a main frameprovided with film moving mechanism, a door hinged thereto, a movablescreen on said door, a cent-rifiigal device on said door and connectedwith said screen, and means for gearing the centrifugal device to thefilm moving mechanism when the door is closed, the said mechanism beingthrown out of gear when the door is open, substantially as set forth.

12. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a main frameprovided with mechanism for moving the film along one side thereof, adoor hinged to the frame and adapted to cooperate with the frame toprovide a passage for the film, a movable screen on said door adaptednormally to cut off the projecting light from said film, a mechanicalactuating'means for said screen located partly on the frame and partlyon the door, the said parts being so disposed relative to one another asnot to interfere with the therein, means partly on said door and partlyon said frame and frictionally actuated from the film moving mechanismto move the said screen from over said aperture when the door is closed,the said means being so arranged as not to interfere with v the openingof the door and being rendered inoperative to actuate the screen whenthe door is open, and means for returning the screen to its normalposition when the movement of the film moving mechanism is slowed downor stopped, substantially as set forth.

14. In a moving picture machine, a rotatable shaft, a gear wheel on suchshaft, a rotatable sleeve, a gear wheel on the rotatable sleeve arrangedto engage with the first named gear wheel, a loosely mounted barrel,rotatably mounted weights within the barrel, means to yieldingly holdthe weights in a retracted position whensuch weights are not rotating, aconnection between the rotatable sleeve and the weights to rotate suchweights on the rotation of such sleeve and thereby project the weightsfrom their retracted position, a screen, a connection between the screenand the barrel, means to hold such screen in a determined initialposition, such barrel and weights arranged to obtain a connection between them when the weights are projected to move the screen from itsinitial position.

15. In a moving picture machine, a rotatable shaft, a gear wheel on suchshaft, an additional shaft, gear wheels on such additional shaft, arotatable sleeve and a gear wheel on such rotatable sleeve, one of suchgear wheels on the additional shaft arranged I to engage with the firstnamed gear wheel and the other of such gear wheels arranged to engagewith the gear wheel on the rotatable sleeve, a loosely mounted barrel,rotatably mounted weights within the barrel, means to yieldingly holdthe weights in a retracted position when such weights are not rotating,a connection between the rotatable sleeve and the weights to rotate suchweights on the rotation of such sleeve and thereby project the weightsfrom their retracted position, a screen, a connectlon between the screenand the barrel, means to hold such screen in a determined initialposition, such barrel and weights arranged to' obtain a connectionbetween them when the weights are projected to move the screen from itsinitial position; substantially as described.

16. In a moving picture machine, a rotatable shaft, a gear wheel on suchshaft, an additional shaft, gear wheels on such additional shaft, arotatable sleeve and a gear wheel on such rotatable sleeve, one of suchgear wheels on the additional shaft arranged to engage with the firstnamed gear wheel and the other of such gear wheels arranged to engagewith the gear wheel on the rotatable sleeve, a loosely mounted barrel,rotatablv mounted weights, provided respectively with recesses, withinsaid barrel, a spring to yieldingly hold the weights in a retractedposition when such weights are not rotating, projections on therotatable sleeve arranged to loosely fit in the recesses in therotatably mounted weights, to rotate such weights on the rotation-ofsuch sleeve and thereby project the weights from their retractedposition, a screen, a connection between the screen and the barrel,means to hold such screen in a determined initial position, such barreland weights arranged to obtain a connection between them when theweights are projected to move the screen from its initial position;substantially as described.

17. In a moving picture machine, arotatable shaft, a gear wheel on suchshaft, an additional shaft, gear wheels on such additional shaft, arotatable sleeve and a gear wheel on such rotatable sleeve, one of suchgear wheels on the additional shaft arranged to engage with the firstnamed gear wheel and the other of such gear Wheels arranged to engagewith the gear wheel on the rotatable sleeve, an additional sleeveengaging with the first named sleeve, arms on the additional sleeve, aloosely mounted barrel, rotatably mounted weights provided,respectively, with a recess, within the barrel, a spring to yieldinglyhold the weights in a retracted position when such weights are notrotating, the arms on the additional I such weights on the rotation ofsuch sleeve and thereby project the weights from their retractedposition, a screen, a connection between the screen and the barrel,means to hold such screen in a determined initial position, such barreland weights arranged to obtain a connection between them when theweights are projected to movethe screen from its initial position;substantially as described.

18. In a moving picture machine, a rotatable shaft, a barrel, rotatablymounted weights, a connection between the rotatable shaft and theweights to rotate such weights on the rotation of such shaft and therebyproject the weights against the barrel, a

screen, means to yieldingly hold such screen in a determined initialposition, such screen, barrel, and weights arranged to obtain aconnection between them when the weights are projected to move thescreen from its initial position; substantially as described.

19. In a moving picture machine, a rotatable shaft, a barrel, rotatablymounted weights, a connection between the rotatable shaft and theweights to rotate such weights on the rotation of such shaft and therebyproject the weights against the barrel, a screen, such screen, barreland weights ar ranged to obtain a connection between them when theweights are projected to move the screen from its initial position,substantially as described.

20. In a moving picture machine, a rotable shaft, a gear wheel on suchshaft, a rotatable sleeve, a gear wheel on the rotatable sleeve arrangedto engage with the first named gear wheel, a loosely mounted barrel,rotatably mounted weights within the barrel, a connection between therotatable sleeve and the weights to rotate such weights on the rotationof such sleeve and thereby project the weights against the barrel, ascreen, a connection between the screen and the barrel, means to holdsuch screen in a determined initial position, such barrel and weightsarranged to obtain a connection between them when the weights areprojected to move the screen from its initial position; substantially asdescribed.

21. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a movably mountedscreen, a friction member operatively connected to said screen, a secondfriction member having one or more friction surfaces centrifugallymovable into engagement with said first member and means for rotatingsaid second friction member.

22. in a moving picture machine, the combination of a movably mountedscreen, a

friction member operatively connected to said screen, a centrifugalmember, means movable thereby into frictional engagement with saidfriction member and means for rotating said centrifugal member.

23.111 moving picture machine, the combination of a shutter and frictionmemher mounted on a shaft, a second friction member having one or morefriction sur faces centrifugally movable into engagement with said firstmember, and means for rotating said second friction member.

24. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a movable screen, ashaft, a hollow cylindrical member loose on said shaft and adapted whenrotated to impart movement to said screen, a weight within the saidcylindrical member and rotatable with said shaft and a spring normallyholding said weight to said shaft, substantially as set forth.

25. In a moving picture machine, the com bination of a movable screen, ashaft, a hollow cylindrical member loose on said shaft f and adaptedwhen rotated to impart movement to said screen, and a weight within thesaid cylindrical member and rotatable with said shaft.

26. lin a moving picture machine, the combination of a movable screen, ashaft, a hollow cylindrical member loose on. said shaft and adapted,when rotated, to impart movement to said screen, and a friction memberinside said cylindrical member and connected to said shaft andconstructed and arranged to engage frictionally the interior of saidcylindrical member.

27. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a rotatable screen,means to yieldingly hold said screen in a position to cut off theprojecting rays from the film, a shaft, a hollow cylindrical memberloose on said shaft, and adapted when rotated to impart rotation to saidscreen, and a centrifugal device within the said cylindrical memberrotatable with the said shaft and adapted when the shaft is rotated tofrictional-ly engage the said cylindrical member, substantially as setforth.

28. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a movable screen, ashaft, a hollow cylindrical member loose on said shaft, and adapted whenrotated to move said screen, and a centrifugal device within the saidcylindrical member rotatable with the said shaft and adapted when theshaft is shaft and member frictionally when the shaft is rotated, andmeans for holding said screen in its closed position when the said shaftis at rest and returning the same to its position of rest after thecessation of any movement of said shaft, substantially as set forth.

30. in a moving pietnre machine, the comits bination of a frame providedwith film moving mechanism, a film protecting screen, a shaft, a memberloose on said shaft and adapted when rotated to impart movement to saidscreen, means for connecting said shaft and member frictionally when theshaft is rotated, and means for holding said screen in its closedposition when the said shaft is at rest and partially counterbalancingthe same and the force exerted through said connecting means thereonwhen the shaft is rotated, substantially as described.

' 31. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a frame, anapertured plate mounted on said frame, an apertured door mounted on saidplate, a shield mounted on said door and normally positioned to closethe aperture in said door to normally prevent the passage of the lightray, revoluble means for feeding a picture film between said door andplate, a centrifugal clutch adapted to be operated by said feedingmeans, and a connection between said clutch and said shield whereby saidshield will be removed from the path of the light ray when the feedingmechanism has attained a predetermined speed, substantially as setforth.

32. In apparatus of the class described, a movable screen, a revolubleshaft, mecha nism whereby said screen is connected with said shaft,devices whereby said mechanism is clutched and unclutched in relation tosaid shaft, a handle, mechanism through which said handle operates saiddevices, film feeding mechanism, and gearing operated by said handle foroperating said feedingmechanism.

33. In apparatus of the class described, a movable screen, a revolubleshaft, mechanism whereby said screen is connected'with said shaft,centrifugally operated devices.

- handle for operating said feeding mechanism.

34:. In apparatus of the class described, a movable screen, a revo-lubleshaft, mechanism whereby said screen is connected with Said shaft,centrifugally operated devices whereby said mechanism is clutched andunclutched in relation to said shaft, and means for revolving said shaftand operating said devices.

35. In apparatus of the class described, a movable screen, a rotatableshaft, means to rotate said shaft, mechanism whereby said screen isconnected with said shaft, said mechanism including a pair of frictiondevices normally out of operative relation with each other andconstructed and arranged to noeaaor be moved into operative relationwhen said shaft is rotated.

36. The combination with a rotary shaft of a moving picture machine of aswinging member, a governor arranged to be revolved at a high rate ofspeed by said shaft and having governor weights adapted to frictionallyconnect the swinging member with the governor, a light shield soconnected to said swinging member that said light shield is moved out ofits closed position whenever the swinging member is'r'noved by thegover- 37. In a moving picture machine, a rotating shaft, a centrifugalgovernor arranged to be rotated at a high rate of speed by said shaft, aswinging member mounted to turn about an axis extending in the samegeneral direction as the axis of rotation of said governor, a portion ofsaid governor being arranged to engage and 'turn said swinging memberwhen said governor attains a predetermined speed, and a light shieldoperatively connected to saidswinging member and arranged tobe movedwhen said swinging member moves.

38. The combination with a rotary shaft of a moving picture machine, ofa swinging member, a governor arranged to be revolved at a high rate ofspeed by said shaft and having governor Weights adapted to frictionallyconnect the swinging member with the governor, a light shield andconnections between the light shield and swinging member arranged tomove said light shield out of its closed position whenever the swingingmember is moved by the governor.

39. In a moving icture machine having a main frame provided with filmdriving mechanism including a'gear, the combination with a gate orauxiliary frame adapted to be hinged to the main frame, of a movableshutter, and centrifugal mechanism for operating the shutter including agear, the said shutter, centrifugal mechanism and gear being mounted onand carried by the said gate, and the gear of the centrifugal mechanismbeing adapted and located to mesh with the gear of the film drivingmechanism when the gate is in closed position, substantially asdescribed.

4-0." In a moving picture machine, the combination of a main frameprovided with driving means for imparting a progressive movement to afilm, an auxiliary frame or gate hinged thereto, a movable shutter carried by said gate and adapted to cut off the projecting light from thefilm, and centrifugal means operated by said driving means andcomprising an outwardly movable weight or weights for operating saidshutter.

41. In a moving picture .machine, the

combination of a main frame provided with driving means for imparting aprogressive movement to a film, an auxiliary frame or gate hingedthereto on a Vertical axis, a movable shutter carried by said gate andadapted to cut off the projecting light from the film, and centrifugalmeans operated by said driving means comprising outwardly movableWeights for operating said shutter.

42. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a main frameprovided With driving means for imparting a progressive movement to afilm, an auxiliary frame or gate hinged thereto on a vertical axis, a

shutter carried by said gate and adapted to cut off the projecting lightfrom the film, said shutter being movable on a horizontal axis andcentrifugal means operated by said driving means, comprising outwardlymovable weights for operating said shutter.

WILLIAM B. MOORE, THOMAS H. ARMSTRONG. In the presence of-.-

C. A. ADAMS, CHARLES TURNER BROWN;

